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Austin may not be New York City or even Houston, but for a casual town known primarily for its nightclub music scene, it has one of the most renowned opera companies anywhere in America. Many credit the success of the Austin Lyric Opera to maestro Richard Buckley, an internationally acclaimed conductor who was wooed to Austin’s opera company a decade ago and continues to draw some of the biggest talent in the singing world. Austin Lyric Opera puts on lush, fully realized interpretations of classics from Verdi, Mozart and Puccini, as well as a slew of more modern operas. The company also hosts a range of education and community programs, providing a rich blend of high art and accessibility in the city of Austin.

For Mark Richter, opera is more about impact than scale. He founded Opera Piccola of San Antonio to artistically prove that point, making it the company's mission to create accessible productions with a smaller scope. His dedication to intimate performances is right in the name—"piccola" is the Italian word for "small." Today, that less grandiose approach has become the opera's greatest asset: it allows directors and performers to take more risks on stage, and gives audiences a different, up-close perspective on an often misunderstood art form. To further that accessibility, all productions are staged in the opera's original language, with English super-titles for those not fluent in the dialect of dramatics.

Check out the amazing schedule at Ballet Conservatory of South Texas for a list of the best shows San Antonio offers.
Next time you're in the neighborhood, this theater should be at the top of your list with their amazing restaurant.
Parking is plentiful, so visitors can feel free to bring their vehicles.

Want something more than just a weekend out at the bars? Bastrop's Bastrop Opera House offers the perfect theater to shake your weekend up.
While you're enjoying this theater, be sure to check out their amazing restaurant for a tasty meal.
Families will feel right at home at this theater with its kid-friendly atmosphere.
Parking is plentiful, so guests can feel free to bring their vehicles.

Why is the studio's schedule so packed with fitness-tinted dance classes? "Because sweating is fun," explains its slogan. Between yellow-green walls, professional dancers teach kids and adults how to cut rugs and stay fit at the same time. Classes like Zumba, Pilates-infused burlesque, and hip-hop dance classes let on-staff choreographers showcase skills they also employ for special events—customers commission them to polish their wedding and quinceañera dances.

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When most people hear the word opera these days, they don’t think of a grand, enthralling tradition that stretches back to 16th-century Italy. Maybe they think of Pagliaccio getting maced with cherry Binaca on a certain episode of Seinfeld, or maybe they think of Bugs Bunny in full valkyrie regalia, but the fact remains that most people have never actually seen an opera for themselves. It’s a powerful experience, and one that’s about much more than viking helmets and guys dressed like sad clowns.The truth is, there’s hardly been a better time to get acquainted with the opera. More and more unique operas have begun to grace the stage, including offbeat gems such as Anna Nicole, an operatic biography of Anna Nicole Smith. But what’s a night at the opera really like, and how do you prepare for it? We talked with mezzo-soprano Jacque Kress, who’s performed everywhere from Boston to Salzburg, to get the answers.Are all operas depressing?It certainly seems that way to newcomers, since some of the most famous operas—think La Bohème and Madama Butterfly—are tragedies. But apparently not every opera is designed to elicit tears. Kress’s favorite roles to perform are the comedic ones, and she insists that there’s a much wider range of shows than pop culture often makes out. “Honestly, if there’s a storyline in a movie that you love, it’s probably based on an opera.”What should I see for my first performance?Kress recommends a playful classic such as Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro or Così fan tutte. “Mozart is my favorite composer for newcomers,” she says, and “both are very light-hearted operas with a good mixture of comedy and drama.” Kress doesn’t recommend a modern or experimental opera for first-timers, as these tend to be more difficult to follow.What if I don’t speak the language the opera is performed in?These days, the vast majority of opera houses don’t expect you to be fluent in French or Italian. “If the opera is not in English,” assures Kress, “there will be supertitles, which are translations on a screen above the stage.” Opera houses such as the Met in New York and the Wiener Staatsoper in Vienna even provide audiences with individual digital translators. Even so, it’s still a good idea to review the show’s synopsis before you go—that way, you won’t have to rely on the translations too much and can instead focus on the performances.Okay, I’ve got the tickets, but what do I wear?Gone are the days when floor-length gowns and dashing tuxedos were customary. “In reality,” Kress says, “the only time an audience member might get that dressed up is at the opening gala for an ‘A’ opera house, such as the Met.”These days, it’s okay to keep it casual and simply wear what you might wear to church or work. That means no ripped jeans, sweatpants, or flip-flops, but dark-wash jeans and a nice shirt are a perfectly acceptable ensemble. “Honestly? All we really care about is that you're there and want to enjoy the performance.”I made it to the theater and I love the show! But when do I clap?“Applause is very rare in opera, which is unfortunate,” Kress says. “When opera was in its prime, it was like going to a sporting event; people cheered when they liked something, and booed when they didn't.” That simply isn’t the case today; now, people are only encouraged to applaud at the end of an act or “after a really difficult aria.” Basically, your hands are less important at the opera than “an open mind and a love of music.”